TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova will lead the efforts of the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2016, general elections. As the United States Attorney and District Election Officer, United States Attorney Canova is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact for the public to report election violations while the polls are open on Election Day. This program deters election fraud and discrimination by increasing the Department’s ability to prosecute these offenses when they occur.

United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova said, “The ability to exercise the right to vote is the centerpiece of American democracy. The Department of Justice will act aggressively to ensure that those who are entitled to vote may do so and that those who seek to corrupt the integrity of the process are brought to justice. It is imperative that anyone with specific information about voting abuses or election fraud share the information with my office, the FBI, or the Department of Justice, so that we may ensure an open and fair election process.”

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also protects voters from intimidation and harassment. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

To respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 8, 2016, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, District Election Officer Christopher P. Canova will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached at (850) 942-8430.

The FBI will also have Special Agents available in each field office and resident agency in the Northern District of Florida to receive and respond to allegations of election fraud, voter intimidation, voter suppression, and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at (904) 248-7000.